Chemists Develop New Soluble Adhesive

Chemists Develop New Soluble Adhesive Professor Mark Grinstaff and his research team at Boston University are working to find environmentally friendly alternatives to plastics. Following a two-year experimental process, Grinstaff's team has developed an alternative, soluble adhesive derived entirely from natural chemical components. The research team, which presented the adhesive in Nature Communications, noted that the formula is highly suitable for use in vastly different sectors that rely on adhesive materials, such as medicine and industry. Grinstaff, who is a Full Professor in Circular Research at the BU College of Engineering, a chemistry professor at the College of Arts and Sciences, and director of the Grinstaff Group, stated: "We are replacing non-soluble materials with environmentally better alternatives that will perform the same way. It is possible to achieve both at the same time; we just need to use our minds." Anjeza Beharaj, who completed her doctorate in organic chemistry while working in Grinstaff's laboratory, which studies the large molecular structures of chemically bonded materials, particularly polymers, said: "We wanted to mimic plastic binder substances found in paints that cause paint to stick to walls." Although polymers and plastics are often thought to mean the same thing, polymers can actually be made from naturally derived materials; even our DNA is considered a polymer. Beharaj and Grinstaff worked with William A. Blessing, who recently completed his doctorate in BU's chemistry department, and research assistant Ethan McCaslin, an undergraduate student, to develop an adhesive system made of soluble polymers that could demonstrate adhesion performance as good and effective as plastic-based products on the market. Beharaj said: "Our key component is carbon dioxide. This soluble adhesive, which has the consistency of honey or molasses, comprises approximately 20 to 40 percent CO2. We generally think of carbon as a gas that pollutes the atmosphere, which it does in large quantities. But what is exciting for us is this development: This material allows us to use carbon dioxide that would normally be released into the atmosphere for another purpose, and it creates an opportunity for oil refineries and factories to make this gas suitable for environmentally friendly polymers. So there is a win-win situation for both the environment and customers, because since CO2 is an inexpensive raw material, there is potential to reduce product prices." Unlike plastics that continue to pollute soil for hundreds of years, Grinstaff and Beharaj expect the adhesive they produced to degrade completely in nature within approximately one year at most. McCaslin stated: "This development represents important progress in creating environmentally friendly products, which should be a priority of the scientific world today." McCaslin also expressed hope that this adhesive would "inspire more researchers to create environmentally friendly products." Grinstaff's team anticipates that their soluble adhesive can be formulated to replace today's plastic adhesives. By adjusting the ratio of polymer and CO2 in each adhesive group, the researchers have enabled the material's tackiness to be made stronger or weaker, or to respond to certain surface types. The adhesion strength ranges from tape to permanent wood adhesive and can be engineered to adhere to metal, glass, wood, Teflon, and even wet surfaces. Beharaj also noted that materials that can be naturally derived and are soluble are absolutely safe for use in the human body. These adhesives have the potential to replace metals used to hold bones together in surgeries, which could make surgical procedures less invasive. They can also be used on skin surfaces to protect cuts, wounds, abrasions, and post-operative incisions. The next step will be to best use and market these adhesives, which can be utilized in vastly different fields. Grinstaff concluded: "What we need to do now is find the best application method, and for this we will first learn the needs of people in different fields. The idea in the minds of people working in surgery will be different from that of someone working in packaging, but we can address both markets."

Source

Story Source: Materials provided by Boston University. Note: Content may be edited for style and length. Boston University. "Chemists develop new biodegradable adhesive: Provides environmentally friendly option to traditional plastic adhesives." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191218153406.htm (accessed 2 October 2022). / https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191218153406.htm